Analyze why Japanese and Koreans don't remove masks

In South Korea, from January 30th, the obligation to wear indoor masks was completely lifted, except for some facilities such as hospitals and public transportation. This is an additional measure following the cancellation of the obligation to wear outdoor masks in May 2022. But you can still easily find people wearing masks indoors or out. Why is this phenomenon still happening when we can remove the inconvenient mask?

The New York Times (NYT) reported on February 1st (local time), "Many Asian countries are easing mask restrictions."

The NYT analyzed that wearing a mask seems to have become a 'habit' for Koreans. SARS in 2002, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in 2012, fine dust that bothers me every year, etc. I was used to wearing a mask before, but it became a habit because I wore it from the beginning during the two years of the corona pandemic. Japan has a similar atmosphere. A 24-year-old woman who teaches ballet in Yokohama told the NYT, "Even if we don't recommend that students wear masks, they continue to wear them. If they don't wear masks, they feel like something is missing."

Some analyzes have shown that wearing a mask reduces pressure on makeup, etc., and has an effect. Culture researcher Kim Sang-min said, "Masks reduce the social pressure to maintain a certain level of facial beauty. People who find it a little inconvenient to show their true faces find comfort in hiding," he said.

Wearing a mask is also seen as good etiquette to avoid respiratory illnesses like the flu and seasonal allergies, the NYT explained. "Koreans can consider it disrespectful not to wear a mask," Kim said.

In addition, the fact that health authorities in Japan and South Korea still recommend wearing masks indoors, and the fact that people are trying to avoid respiratory illnesses due to fine dust in the East Asian air are thought to be factors that continue to voluntarily wear masks. The NYT reported.